EL7054 - Creative Nonfiction

What will I learn on this module?

“Tell all the truth, but tell it slant –“
Emily Dickinson

Creative nonfiction can be defined as writing that employs elements of creative writing to present a factual, true story. It might take the form of prose, poetry, verbatim theatre, or interview. Because it uses artifice and the techniques of fiction but claims nevertheless to tell a true story, it poses questions about what we mean by ‘true’, and invites readers to reflect on their own knowledge and experience and on what is at stake when any story is told. Creative nonfiction has enormous potential to explore emotion, unlock experience and create knowledge; it is also an increasingly popular genre among readers and editors, making it an attractive choice for aspiring writers.

This practice-based module aims to develop your understanding and practice of creative nonfiction across a range of possible forms. These might include memoir / autobiography, travel writing, science writing, biography, eco/nature writing, personal essay, sports writing or auto-fiction, and others.

Reading as writers, you will analyse a broad range of texts by creative nonfiction writers, and investigate and discuss the creative and factual limits and possibilities of creative nonfiction. You will consider the ways in which creative nonfiction is similar to other genres, as well as the specific challenges it poses.

You will experiment with a range of creative nonfiction forms, workshopping each other’s draft work within the workshop. You will also be encouraged to look for publication opportunities for your work.

How will I learn on this module?

The module is taught through a combination of tutor presentation introducing critical consideration of different forms of published creative nonfiction; individual critical reading; creative writing exercises to encourage experimentation; tutorials; and group workshopping of draft work. Tutor presentation will introduce some of the range of creative nonfiction possibilities and the conceptual, ethical and creative challenges associated with them. The presentation will often be followed by a short creative exercise brief, in which students will explore the nonfiction form presented. Reading of a range of creative nonfiction texts will allow students to interrogate the boundaries and creative possibilities forged by published writers, and to critically consider examples of good practice; and group discussion will offer a workshop group the benefit of the “hive brain” in the collective shared interrogation of a piece of creative text. This interrogation will also help students to gain a broader understanding of how their own writing might benefit from critical reflection and workshop discussion.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Advice and support will be provided in lectures, seminars and individual tutorials and through tutor and peer feedback in groups on the development of creative and critical projects. You also have access to specialised services provided by central university departments and close and effective links have been developed with student’s services, the career service, the library and information services and the students union. You are encouraged to meet and discuss your work outside the module with your peers.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between creative and reflective critical work
2. Develop ability to reflect upon and refine creative practice in ways which accord with academic definitions of research


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. Produce effective creative work in the light of critical reflection
4. Research a real subject and use creative writing techniques to produce an effective piece of creative nonfiction


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

5. Take account of ethical considerations in writing about the real world

How will I be assessed?

Formative feedback: is offered in two individual half hour tutorials as well as through feedback in seminars and written feedback on draft materials.MLO4

Summative: The module will be assessed by a Writing Portfolio which has a creative element and a critical-reflective element. Together these elements should total 6,000 words (or equivalent for non-prose forms), with the creative element comprising 5,000 words, and a critical-reflective commentary of 1,000 words. The creative work should be a piece of original creative writing, exploring creatively some of the issues raised in the critical-reflective element. MLO1-4

1,000 words of prose will be treated as equivalent to 5 pages of script or 40 lines of poetry.

Feedback on summative work will be delivered according to the existing protocols of the Department of Humanities: all assessments are moderated with feedback (with comments on feedback sheets) returned to the student with the final moderated grade. Feedback will encourage and facilitate reflective learning through the feedback sheet grid which pinpoints particular areas of strengths/weakness and the narrative comments which encourage students to consider how they have succeeded and how they can improve.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

“Tell all the truth, but tell it slant –“
Emily Dickinson

Creative nonfiction employs elements of creative writing to present a factual, true story. Because it uses artifice and fictional techniques but claims nevertheless to tell a true story, it poses questions about what we mean by ‘true’, and invites readers to reflect on their own knowledge and experience and on what is at stake when any story is told. Creative nonfiction has enormous potential to explore emotion, unlock experience and create knowledge; it is also an increasingly popular genre among readers and editors, making it an attractive choice for aspiring writers.

The module aims to develop your understanding and practice of creative nonfiction across a range of possible forms, such as memoir, travel writing, science writing, biography, eco/nature writing, personal essay, sports writing, auto-fiction.

You’ll analyse texts by creative nonfiction writers, and discuss the creative and factual limits and possibilities of creative nonfiction.

You’ll experiment with a range of creative nonfiction forms and will also be encouraged to look for publication opportunities for your work.

Course info

Credits 30

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 1 year Full Time
1 other options available

Department Humanities

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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